RACAN, KLEIN DISCUSS EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CRO POLITICS ON BOSNIA

ZAGREB, Jan 13 (Hina) - The president of Croatia's Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy to Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) on Thursday discussed in Zagreb how recent political changes in Croatia would affect the situation in neighbouring BH. Special envoy Jacques Paul Klein was interested in how Croatia's new government could contribute to the establishment of better dialogue among all sides included in the implementation of the peace process in BH, said a statement from the SDP. Analysing the situation after the January 3 parliamentary elections in Croatia, which the SDP won in coalition with the Croatian Social Liberal Party, Klein pointed to the key role SDP president Ivica Racan and Croatia's new government could have in overcoming problems, and in providing possibilities for cooperation within BH and improving Croatia-BH relations. Klein said the entire international community, and a considerable number of people in BH, had invested too much effort, hope, and means in the creation of a democratic and European future for BH to give up. Racan reminded of the continued support the SDP had given BH's independence and integrity. He said Croatia's new government would continue to care for Croats in BH, but pointed out aid would be formulated in parliament in a new and completely transparent manner, and that it would be intended for those really in need. Racan said he was willing to help in improving the situation in BH in keeping with accepted international obligations, but pointed out other factors on which progress and normalisation in BH depended had to show a higher degree of efficiency and seriousness than in the past. (hina) ha